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Month April 2017

In User eXperience (UX) design, we talk of user personas. In simple terms, a persona is one of many ideal persons that would eventually use a product you’re designing. To illustrate, if Facebook was still a project on Mark Zuckerberg’s laptop today, a UX designer creates ideal images of persons who would probably be interested in social media and why. A teenager, a housewife, an unemployed graduate – all would be personas for the future Facebook.

You see, real entrepreneurs see everything as a product. This article you’re reading is a product. You are the user. Who are you? Why are you reading this? What made you click the link to the article? Was it the keyword Entrepreneur? Was it the urgency of the year 2017? Was it just boredom? As the product designer, I need to know, in advance. Without this foreknowledge, my product (article) is doomed even before it reaches the internet.

So seriously, who are you? Let me guess.

An unemployed graduate seeking a way out through business.
An employed person dissatisfied with their job and wants out to start own business.

You’re OK with your job for now but want to start a side business, just in case.

You’re really passionate about entrepreneurship and would never work for anyone else but yourself.

A housewife with a Bsc who needs to show the strength of a Woman in business.

You’re already running your own business but it’s failing.The headline was an immediate encouragement and you just had to read the article.

In reality, I didn’t have to create so many personas before writing this article. Likely, none of the personas above screamed your name. Or one did! If so, you‘re indeed home.

Truth be told, entrepreneurs are total fools. They’re revel in their wild dreams. They dare imagine creating a better world from a whimsical app. And add to that their utter arrogance: everyone must buy into their dreams without thinking. And when no one does, not even lovely mom, the unrepentant entrepreneur calls everyone losers. “I’ll take the plunge a lone star. And they’ll all see me shining over Silicon Valley in no time”, the dreamer says to herself.

But hey… I’m totally with you on this. I’ve been there and I still am. I know the feeling, the rejection, the frustration, the near breakdowns, the ‘bankruptcy’, and the mirth of victory (eventually). If you’ve been patient to read this far, the title of the article is apparently forgotten by now.

Flashback: Why 2017 is the year of the Entrepreneur.

Ok this has nothing to do with the recession. In fact, recession, IMO, is just a buzzword to describe the fiscal deficiency of a nation. It doesn’t address the fundamental trouble – an over dependence on government to fund our lives, which translates to a dearth of successful entrepreneurs. Or that feeling of entitlement your BSc endowed you. No you’re not entitled to anything. You’ve not created anything!

Entrepreneurs are creators of value.

So if you’ve been thinking of burning your dreams and picking up that ‘reliable’ 8 to 5 job, please STOP! You don’t know what you have. Your dreams are enough value, if you build them into products.

Guess what? You don’t need an MBA to design products that grow. Why? Your dreams are your dreams. Only you can live them! And don’t you ever forget that. Business schools are too routine to get you out of first gear. An MBA is for your future 8 to 5 CEO/CFO/COO, while you travel the world and dream more. Did Zuckerberg’s African trip pop into your mind? Stop it! The Facebook founder isn’t your reference point. You’ll never build another facebook. But you’ll build and grow your own business.

I can only help you in one way. I’ll teach you all I know and have done on product design. I wanna show you how to take your idea off your mind to Market. We’ll chat about idea and product validation, UX design ( I love this), MVP (don’t worry it’s just an unnecessary buzzword),product launch and everything between. I’m not going to speak Silicon Valley gibberish, I’ll talk as a fellow inhabitant of Africa.

The sessions are FREE!

I’ll be teaching Product Design: Idea to Market, on a simple platform we all use, whatsapp, over 3 evenings from April 23 to 25, 2017. Just send me your name and email address on 08143805147, on whatsapp to book a place.

Once upon a time, on a bright sunny day, I set out for my summer coaching centre. That year was ’05. I was preparing for my GCE. Usual bants from the boys were flowing around. Then something caught my attention, a young pretty lady with a bible. That isn’t unusual. But she’s with the New World Translation. I struck up a conversation.

Fast forward to ’08, our path crossed again. This time, series of conversations had passed and a friendship had ensued. By’ 09, we became school mates and the friendship got stronger.

You see, I’d always thought about life from the leftist perspective. This young woman groomed me. I had two mothers in school, Aunty Bolanle abandoned me after she graduated, the other stuck with me even with my faults. She taught me life. She taught me strength. She taught me courage in the face of adversity.

She taught me how to love a woman.

I have so much to say but words are deserting me at this point. Memories are flooding my head I can’t seem to stick with one. My eyes tarry as I write this. My mind wanders into the unknown.

We’re born, and then we gone. Nobody lives forever. It’s alright and then it’s not. Freedom is a kind of prison.

I can see the future, I have a dream. I see people free from the pain within. I see God’s kingdom.

From the highway of life, I see reflections from a distance, see them walking on the water. The closer I get, the faster it fades away. The mirage of life. Everything you thought you knew today, fades away.

Every memories we share stays with me. I wish I could document them. I wish I could record all and keep it save for references. Can’t believe I’m writing this.

Once upon a time, I made you promise not to ever die before me. I said I wasn’t going to forgive you if you did….

Valential Arabella Rain.

Chattel.

Princess.

Last born.

Mummy’s handbag.

Olúwa Chika.
Chika with the “CH” and not “SH”.

Never stopped loving you. No I never did.

Thanks for living a worthy life in Jah’s service.

Thanks for gracing us with your presence on this earth.

You’ve given us another reason to look forward to when He’ll call, and all those sleeping in death will answer.

My thoughts are with your husband and children, your mum and dad, your siblings and all those you genuinely cared for.